Carpet fastener



10, 1925.` v I 1,528,801' A* W. S. THOMAS ET AL CARPET FASTENER Filed Nov. 26, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Mar. 10, 1925.

UN I 'IE'.ED S'IATIES 1 formes.

WINGATE S. THOMAS ANI) SAMUEL J'. BRANVSON, OF CHICAGO, IL IiIITOIS,l ASSIGNQRS TO KNAPP yIBI'tO'lVHIERS MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGQ VIIrIiIlTClSLA COR- PORATION OF ILLINOIS.

FASTENER.

Application led November 26, 1923.1 vSerial No'.r 677,135.

To @ZZ wiz/0m t may concern.'

Be it knownl that we, VVINGATE S. THoMAs and SAMUEL J. BnANsoN, vcitizens of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook. and State of Illinois, have invented certain` new. and useful Improvements in Carpet Fasteners, of which the following. is a specification.

. This invention has to do with certain improvements in building constructions and the like. The invention has reference particularly` to :improvements in the means whereby the carpet is secured along its edge portion so as to keep it taut and present a iinished and i sightly appearance.

In certain buildings such as hotels 'and public places, it is.v the practice to remove the carpet from the floor periodically for purposes of cleaning and repairing the same. Oftentimes a certain amount of shrinkage takes place` during the cleaning operation;

and in order to compensate for such shrinkage, it isvery customary to make the carpet of slightly larger sizey thanrthe floor-which it covers. In the past it has been very customary to turn the edge portions of the carpet under and tack through the double thickness of material thus provided. This procedure, however, possesses the evident disadvantage that the edge of the carpet is damaged severely and an objectionable line is formed at the point of the crease. Furthermore, in certain types of building construction, particularly thoseusing concrete and tile iioors, it becomes necessary to pron vide a nailing strip at the foot of the base board into which thecarpet tacks may be driven.

The main object of the present invention is to provide means for securing the edge portion of the carpet in place without the use of nails or tacks or the like; in conjunction with which the use of plugs and nailing strips is aiso eliminated.

Another object of the presenty invention is to provide a type and arrangement of construction such that the desired amount of edge portion of thecarpet may be accommodated beneath or within the base board or lower portion of the 'wall withouthaving to fold 4the same under. A lfurther object in this connection is to establish the space within which to accommodate this edge portion of the carpetwithout in any way weakening or impairing theistrength and durability, of

the 'wall struct-ure.

A further feature of the invention hasto do with the provision `ofen, improved ,means for, securing' the edge .portion of the .carpet tirmly in place so erly stretched. In this .connections an lobject is to provide a form of clip orclamping device which fis.; so .constnicted that it will take a hold of the carpet and eftectivelyfhold the same while at the same timeallowing the extremeedge portion of the carpet to pro` ject into the space provided for its accommodation.

A further object-in connection with the foregoing is to provide a very simple means for attachment of this carpetclamping or holding device to the lower-'portion ofthe wall structure, so that it will resist the side pull without having to use nails, bolts or other means for attachment to they floor of the building.

Still a further object in connection with the foregoing is to provide an arrangement which will lend itselfadmirably to use in connection with; familiar and.. well -nnderstood implements for stretching the carpet, so that the familiar methods of performing this work may still be used inV connection with `the improved attaching device?, herein disclosed.

Other objects and uses ofthe invent-ion will appear from a detailed descriptionof the same, which consists in the features oi construction and combinations 'of parts hereinafter described and claimed.r I

' In the drawings: Figure l shows a fragmentary transverse sectionthroughthe lowerportion of a w'alland adjoining structure, and through theY base board and nailing strip, showing one -form of my 'improved construction applied thereto;

Fig. 2 shows a fragmentary horizontal section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. l, looking in the direction of the arrows, the same being an irregular section; n l

Fig. 3 shows a view similar to that of Fig. l, with the exception that it illustrates a modiiied type of base board structure;

Fig. e shows another modified form of basefboard structure;

Fig. 5 shows a perspective vview of one-of the clips for holding the trough in place adjacent to the-foot kof the wall;

as to keep the carpet prop-X..v

Fig. 6 shows a fragmentary cross section through the foot of a wall having applied thereto a modified form of clip;

Fig. 7 shows a view similar to that of Fig. 1 illustrating a modified form of construe tion in which the side flanges of the retaining clip are defiected outwardly at a considerable angle instead of extending straight up at the sides of the partition; and

Fig. 8 shows another modified construction in which a clip is provided which reaches out and embraces the outer edge of the channel so as to support the same at that point.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, the wall is designated by the numeral 7. It is shown as being built up from tiles 8 which can be either solid or hollow as illustrated. Vhen hollow tiles are used they establish the vertical passages 9, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

1t is very customary in tilewall constructions to place a nailing strip 10 along the lower portion of the tile, so that the base board 11 can be nailed thereto. In such case it is also customary to plaster the outer face of the tile down to the nailing strip 10, as shown at 12 in Fig. 1.

According to one feature of the present invention, we may provide longitudinally eX- tending passage or space 13 adjacent to the ower edge of the partition, which space may be established in any convenient manner.

According to another feature of the present` invention, we may provide a channel shaped strip 14 on the floor and adjacent to the foot of the wall. This strip has the upstandiiig flange 15 at its wall edge, and its other edge 16 is preferably curved upwards and then turned inwardly at right angles, as shown at 17. The result is that the strip 14 establishes a channel shaped passage whose upper side 18 is open and is of a width less than the interior width of the strip itself.

The channel shaped strip 14 is held in proper position adjacent to the foot of the wall in any convenient manner. In the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 and 2, this 1s doneby the use of a series of clips 19. Each of these clips has an upstaiiding flange 2O on its back side and its front side is provided with an overturned bend or flange 21, which reaches down and engages the upstandiiig flange 15 of the channel strip 14. The result is that the channel strip is held in proper proximity to the wall.

Ordinarily, the clips 19 will be spaced along the wall at intervals, it being unnecessary to use them in close abutment. Furthermore, they may be of such size that they will closely embrace the thickness of the tile or the thickness of one side thereof when hollow tiles are used. In the constructions of Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive,'the clips are only of a width to embrace one side of the hollow tile, but in the modified construction of Fig. 6, the clip is shown as being of sufficient width to embrace the entire thickness of the ti e.

Ordinarily, the clips will be laid between the lower edge of the tile and the surface of the floor. lii such case it will sometimes be desirable to form one or more perforations 22 in the lower portions of the clips, so that grouting can be spread along the floor onto which the tiles will be set, which gi'outing will reach through the openings 22 and serve to assist in holding the clips in place.

Examination of Figs. 1, 3 and 4 in particular shows that the portions 21 of the clips are flared outwardly so as to in effect form a bead along the upper edge of the flange 15 of the channel strip 14. T he presence of this bead together with the intuined lip 17 of the channel serves to still fuither reduce the effective width of the opening 1S into the channel.

After the channel is in place the edge portion of the carpet is laid into the channel with its extreme edge 23 projecting upwards i into the space 153. Upon stretching the carpet in the proper manner a plate or plates 34 may be set down into the channel 14, above the carpet, lying therein for the purpose of locking the carpet against with- 1 drawal from the channel. These plates 24 extend lengthwise of the channel and preferably coine in relatively short sections, so that they can be set into place one after the other along the length of the channel and as the consecutive carpet sections are stretched into place.

The strips 24 are. of greater width than the effective opening 18 of thev upper portion of the channel 14. Furthermore, the amount of return of the lip 17 over the base of the channel, is such that each strip 24 may be set down into place by first forcing its outer edge and the adjacent; carpet beneath the lip 17 an excessive amount which is sufficient to allow the inner edge of the strip 24 together with the adjacent carpet to be pressed down past the bead 21. As soon as this action is completed and the parts released, the tension of the carpe-t itself working' over the lip 17 will tend to wedge the strip 24 backwards forcing its inner edge beneath the bead 21 and thus effectively locking the earpet in place. The action is such that the very pull of the carpet itself tends to lock its edge portion more securely into the channel 14, so that increase of tension of the carpet serves to improve the locking action.

YWhen it is desired to remove the carpet, it is only necessary to grasp the projecting edge portion 23 and pull the same away from the wall. This action will force the strip 24 away from the wall until the inner edge of such strip is clear of thebead 21. As soon as this happens, the strip 24 will lill) llf) tilt upwardly, pivoting ony its outer edge, and" will thus abe released i together `with the carpet fromthe channel.

.If desired, the inner and outer edges of the'strip 24, aswell as :the edge of the lip 17 may be serrated or roughened soi as toY improvethelocking action of these parts on the Lcarpet.

If desired, also,.a;flayer of padding 25 maybe placedbeneath the carpet Aand substantiallyup tothe edge of the .channel 1.4.

Whenthis padding is useditshould preferably be of. a thickness substantially the same as theiheight of the channel strip 14, so that thecarpet willpass smoothly over to vthe channel strip.

Apiinishingfstrip of sheet metal or .the like may be set into .place after the carpethas beennsecured tothe channel strip. Such a iinishing strip-'26 when used may have its upper edge nailed to the base board l1, as indicated `in Figi, and its lower edge may be folded inwardly so as to pass smoothly overthe carpet above the lip 17.

In the ymodilied construction shown in Fig. 2, the wooden base board ll-is dispensed with and the'iinishng strip` 27 is carried upwardly va suiiicient distance ,to

directly engageithe plaster. Inth-is case, aV

second nailing strip l29'y may be placed-over the usual'nailingstripflO .invorder to ,give an'a'dditional separation from the wall, if desired.

In the modiiied construction of. Fig.: 4', we

have .illustrated a'fbase board 30 which reaches. directly down .to `the position ofthe carpet, but .theflower back-,side of this base board isi recessed,as shown at 31,'-sosr as'y to provide yan increased sizeof* space for. the accommodation ofthe edge :portion of the carpet.

It will be observed' `that where the end` portion oflithe clip, when used, extends straight up: at thefsideiof the partition, the

side -pull exerted thereon by ythe .tension yof the carpet tends to bend the same rwith respect to the body portion of the clip. and

cause vit to straighten-out. \This-bendingf ac-` tion is lonly resisted by` the stilfnessfot the materiaLo which theclip ismade.

In those cases inwhich the clip isof rel? atively thin metal, -orl where :the ktension of the'carpet'may be excessive, the endcf the clip may be :foundl toI bend over and allow the channel. to slide away fronr'the parti`^ tion.

:In the modified construction of Fig. 7, the end portions of the clips are given` a =pre liminaryjdeflection away Fi'ro1n'the partition, as shownat'BS, and'ztheir end portions 34 arehooled downwardly to engage the channels. Thejresult is that `,the tendency for: the clipsztoibend is greatly' reduced and it 4vmetal in` becomes Jpossible to. use thinner their construction. L

shown at 35 in Fig.`

It will also be noted-'thatwith this arrangementthe channel may be set out from the base of the partition asubstantial distance. Ordinarily, when the partltion -is set on the floorA use ismade oi' a layer of grouting or ythe like, andoftentimes a portion of this is forced out at the sides, as 7. By usingy clips which reach outwardly a substantial vdistance `from the wall, so that the channels may be set away from the wall, a space is provided for Ithe accommodation of this excess grouting when present.

In the modified construction shown in F ig. 8, there is provided a clip 36 whose end portions 37 are carried out around ythe outer edges of the channels and ythen turned inwardly as shown at 38 so as to embrace the upper' edges ofthe channels. \By vthis arrangement, the channels are given a definite and firm support at their outerledges.

We wish to point out that the channels may be held in` place in any convenient manner, as by the use of clips or by originally building the channels into the structure itself, or by nailing the channels' to the floor or to suitable blocks or nailing strips. It is, however, of advantage to' be able to set the channels in place after the Plastering has been completed. This will avoid vthe ac cumulation oi' plaster in the channels, and the channels will be free and clear and unobstructed and ready for use for their intended work. By vthe useof clips which are set into place during the construction of the partitions, and which are so formed that the channels can be afterwards-engaged with them, it becomes possible to set the channels in place after the rough and plastering worlr has been completed.

While4 we have herein' shown and described only certain embodiments of the featureof our present invention, still we do not intend to limit ourselves to the same, except as we may do so in the claims.

IVe claim:

l. In a building construction, the combinationwith a floor and a partition thereon, of any upwardly facing channel strip extendingalong ther surface ofthe floor adjacent to the outside face of the partition, said channel strip having at its wall side a vertical flange. and having at its opposite side an upwardly reaching flange terminating in an inwardly reaching horizontal lip, a seriesy of clips reaching between the `floor and the lower edge ofzthe partition, each lclip having means for engagement with the ypartition and also yhaving an outwardly curved downwardly reachingiinger on its end outside of thelpartition, said fingerengaging the aforesaid verticaly flange of thechannel and serving yto `restrict Vthe sizeof the channel openingatthispoint,a carpetlaid on the floor and having its edge portion seated within' llG the channel and having its extreme free edge extending upwards above the channel adjacent to the partition, a substantially horizontal locking plate removably seated within the channel above the carpet therein, said locking plate in conjunction with the thickness of the carpet having a width greater than the width of the exposed opening of the channel measured between the finger and the lip aforesaid, and also having a width greater than the distance from the inner edgeof the lip to the vertical channel flange at a point beneath the finger` whereby when the locking plate is in place within the channel, tension exerted on the carpet tends to force the plate sidewise against the vertical flange beneath the position of the finger, and suitable means for enclosing a longitudinally extending chamber above the position of the channel and the free edge of the carpet, substantially as described.

2, In a building construction, the combination with a floor and a partition thereon, of an upwardly facing channel strip extending along the surface of the floor adjacent to the outside face of' the partition, said channel strip having at its wall side a vertical flange and having at its opposite side an upwardly reaching flange terminating in an inwardly reaching horizontal lip, a series of clips reaching between the floor and the lower edge of the partition, each clip having means for engagement with the partition and also having an outwardly curved downwardly reaching finger ou its end outside of the partition, said finger engaging the aforesaid vertical flange of the channel and serving to restrict the size of the channel opening at that point` a carnet laid on the floor and having` its elle portion seated within the channel and having its extreme free edge extending upwards above the channel adjacent to the partition, a substantially horizontal locking plate removably seated within the channel above the carpet therein, said locking plate in conjunction with the thickness of the carpet having a` width greater than the width of the exposed opening of the channel measured between the finger and the lip aforesaid, and also having a width greater than the distance from the inner edge of the lip to the vertical channel flange at a point beneath the finger whereby when the locking plate is in place within the channel, tension exerted on the carpet tends to force the plate sidewise against the vertical flange beneath the position of the finger, substantially as described.

3. In a building construction, the combination with a floor and a partition thereon, of an upwardly facing channel strip extending along the surface of the floor adjacent to the outside face of the partition, said channel strip having at its wall side a vertical flange and having at its opposite side an upwardly reaching flange terminating in an inwardly reaching horizontal lip, a series of clips reaching between the floor and the lower edge of the partition, each clip having means for engagement with the partition and also having an outwardly extending downwardly reaching finger on its end outside of the partition, said finger engaging the aforesaid vertical flange of the channel and serving to restrict the size of the channel opening at that point, a carpet laid on the floor and having its edge portion seated within the channel and having its extreme free edge extending upwards above the channel adjacent to the partition, a substantially horizontal locking plate removably seated within the channel above the carpet therein, said locking plate in conjunction with the thickness of the carpet having a width greater than the distance from the' inner edge of the lip to the vertical channel fiange at a point beneath the finger, whereby when the locking plate 1s in place within the channel, tension exerted on the carpet tends to force the plate sidewise against the vertical flange beneath the position of the finger, substantially as described.

4. In a building construction, the combination with a floor and a partition thereon, of an upwardly facinv channel extending along the surface of the floor adjacent to the outside face of the partition, said channel having at its side away from the partitition an upwardly reaching flange terminating in an inwardly reaching horizontal lip, means at the partition side of the channel reaching outwardly to overlie the channel at that point, a carpet laid on the floor and having its edge portion seated within the channel and having its extreme free edge extending upwards above the channel adjacent to the partition, a substantially horizontal locking plate removably seated within the channel above the carpet therein, said locking plate in conjunction with the thickness of the carpet having a width greater than the distance from the inner edge of the lip to the partition side of the channel at a point beneath the overlying projection aforesaid, whereby when the locking plate is in place' within the channel, tension exerted on the carpet tends to force the plate sidewise against the channel wall adj accnt to the partition, and suitable means for enclosing a longitudinally extending chamber above the position of the channel and the free edge of the carpet, substantially as described.

5. In a building construction, the combination with a floor and a partition thereon, of an upwardly facing channel extending along the surface of the floor adjacent to the outside face of the partition, said channel having at its side away from the partition an upwardly reaching flange ter- "minating in an inwardly reaching horizontal lip, means at the partition side of the channel reaching outwardly to ovelie the channel at that point, a carpet laid on the floor and having its edge portion seated within the channel and having its extreme 'ree edge extending upwards above the channel adjacent to the partition, a substantially horizontal locking plate removably seated within the channel above the carpet therein, said locking plate in conjunction with the thickness ot' the carpet having a width greater than the distance from the inner edge ot the lip to the partition side of the channel at a point beneath the overlying projection aforesaid, whereby when the locking plate is in place within the channel, tension exerted on the carpet tends to force the plate sidewise against the channel wall adjacent to the partition, substantially as described.

6. The combination with a floor and a partition, ot' meansfor holding the edge portion of a carpet adjacent to the partition comprising a longitudinally extending member having a carpet contacting edge facing against the direction of carpet tension, a locking device having a partengaging the exposed surface ot the carpet at a point beneath said contacting edge, and means preventing disengagement ot said locking device from the carpet by a direct movement upwards past said edge, substantially as described.

7. Means for gripping the edge portion of a carpet in place on a Hoor, comprising two edged members located adjacent to each other with their edges facing in opposite directions and having their edge portions overlapped, a carpet passing over one of said edges and between the opposing edges and beneath the other edge, and means for holding said members against lateral displacement With respect to each other by the tension of the carpet, substantially as described.

SAMUEL J. BRANSON. WINGATE S. THOMAS. 

